Recommended Posts

Joint Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police Media Release

Four men have been arrested in south-western Sydney following a joint police operation investigating an attempt to manufacture an explosive substance.

Police will allege that a shipment of chemicals from the Northern Territory to Sydney were to be used to manufacture an explosive substance. The investigation did not identify any link to the upcoming APEC summit or to any terrorist-related activity.

The joint operation involving NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police and Northern Territory Police resulted in the execution of six search warrants this morning on premises in Yagoona, Villawood, Lakemba, Strathfield, Kingsgrove and Greenacre.

A 20-year-old Yagoona man, a 20-year-old Lakemba man, a 20-year-old Greenacre man and a 24-year-old man from Kingsgrove were arrested.

The men were taken to the Sydney Police Centre this morning and are expected to be charged with conspiracy to possess an explosive device with intent to damage property.

All four will be refused bail and will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today.

It will be alleged in court that the men intended to use the explosive substance in a robbery/series of robberies.

The investigation began earlier this month when Northern Territory Police identified a suspicious consignment of chemicals.

Inquiries by the AFP and NT Police Joint Counter Terrorism Team based in Darwin found that on 10 August, a Sydney man placed an order for a number of chemicals that could be used to make an explosive substance.

The NSW Police and AFP continued the investigation and worked collaboratively together.

Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Dein, Investigations Commander Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Command said while the matter was not specifically related to his command it was important to fully investigate the matter.

AFP Manager Sydney Office Warren Gray said this operation was an example of how multi-jurisdictional police agencies had worked to ensure that the safety of the community was preserved.

“This operation demonstrates that police agencies have acted quickly to intercept the chemicals, stop an attempt to manufacture a dangerous explosive device and prevent any risk to community safety,” Commander

Taken From:http://www.afp.gov.au/media_releases/national/2007/four_arrested_over_chemical_shipment